Wisdom Books
This is a section where passages from a book are extracted which have a “message of wisdom”. Rather than express my opinions or analyse the contents of the book you can read the author’s message direct. Of course the true meaning of each message needs to be taken in the context from which it was written in the book.
THE TAO OF POOH
The Now of Pooh
Comments in brackets are my own and not the author’s).
In the morning sunshine, in the evening twilight, a small Bear travels through a Forest. Why did we follow him when we were so much younger? He is after all, only a Bear of Little Brain. But is Brain all that important? Is it really Brain that takes us where we need to go? Or is it all too often Brain that sends us off in the wrong direction, following the echo of the wind in the treetops, which we think is real, rather than listening to the voice within us that tells us which way to turn?
A Brain can do all kinds of things, but the things it can do are not necessarily the most important things. Abstract cleverness and knowledge of mind only separates the thinker from the world of reality, and that world, the Forest of Real Life, is in a desperate condition now because of too many who think too much and care too little. In spite of what many minds have thought themselves into believing, that mistake cannot continue for much longer if everything is going to survive. The one chance we have to avoid certain disaster is to change our approach, and to learn to value wisdom and contentment over cleverness and knowledge. These are the things that are being searched for anyway, through Knowledge and Cleverness, but they do not come through Knowledge and Cleverness. They never have and they never will. (What is Fact and Truth always will cause some difficulty in understanding, but Knowledge and Cleverness in this context is relegated to Fact, which although useful is limited by what we can describe and communicate in verbal or written word. Truth, however, has no meaning in this sense and cannot be named. There is no classification or scientific theory to govern its existence. It just IS because we know it through direct experience, or self evidence. Also Truth cannot disputed, if there is belief or opinion, then there will always be a counter belief so therefore no truth. Life is a Truth no one can deny its existence, but if we try to describe what life is through beliefs, opinions, arguments, etc, then these are just facts based on different theories.)
We can no longer afford to look so desperately hard for something in the wrong place. If Knowledge and Cleverness are allowed to go on wrecking things, they will before much longer destroy all life on earth as we know it, and what little may temporarily survive will not be worth looking at, even if it would somehow be possible for us to do so. (I do find the arrogance of humans to suppose we can destroy earth or planet rather naive, the Natural World is far more powerful than Us, and on the contrary it is not Earth we will destroy but only ourselves for sure!)
The Masters of Life know the Way, for they listen to the voice within them, the voice of wisdom and simplicity, the voice that reasons beyond Cleverness and knows beyond Knowledge. (That is why a whisper is like wisdom and is heard through stillness and silence, no need to shout). That voice is not just the power and property of a few, but has been given to everyone. Those who pay attention (listen) to it are often treated as an exception to a rule, rather than examples of the rule in operation! A rule that can apply to anyone who makes use of it.
Within each of us there is an Owl, Rabbit, an Eeore, and a Pooh. For too long, we have chosen the way of Owl and Rabbit. Now, like Eeore we complain about the results. But that accomplishes nothing. If we are smart, we will choose the way of Poooh. As if from far away, it calls to us with the voice of a child’s mind. It may be hard to hear at times, but it is important just the same, because without it, we will never find our way through the Forest (of Life).
It is a mistake to see adults returning to the pure innocence of a child, if we did then we would be considered senile! However, as a mature independent adult, and with all the qualities and benefits that should empower us with, then to capture the pure essence of that child-like quality of spirit, our heart and mind can achieve true wisdom and see the world like no other ordinary person can imagine. This is what the Ancients called Bliss, and to be Blissful is our ultimate purpose and final destination on this Earthly journey.
THE WISE ONES OF OLD
Lao tse
The wise ones of old had subtle wisdom
And depth of understanding,
So profound that they could not be understood.
And because they could not be understood,
Perforce must they be so described:
Cautious, like crossing a wintry stream,
Irresolute, like one fearing danger all around,
Grave, like one acting as guest,
Self-effacing, like ice beginning to melt,
Genuine, like a piece of undressedwood,
Open-minded, like a valley,
And mixing freely, like murky water.
Who can find repose in a muddy world?
By lying still, it becomes clear.
Who can maintain his calm for long?
By activity, it comes back to life.
One who embraces this Tao
Guards against being over-full.
Because he guards against being over-full,
He is beyond wearing out and renewal.
Because the eternal principle of life, Tao, works silently and apparently without action in the way that spring comes round every year, because Tao does not claim credit for its individual acts and is content to be silent, it becomes the image for the Taoist sage.
The demeanor of the pure person
The pure ones of old slept without dreams, and wakened without worries. They ate with indifference to flavor and drew deep breaths. For true people draw breaths from their heels; the vulgar only from their throats.
The pure ones of old did not know what it was to love life or to hate death. They did not rejoice in birth, nor strive to put off dissolution. Unconcerned they came and unconcerned they went. That was all. They did not forget whence it was they had sprung; neither did they seek to inquire their return thither. Cheerfully they accepted life, waiting patiently for their restoration (the end). This is what is called not to allow the mind to lead one astray from Tao, and not to supplement the natural by human means. Such a one may be called a pure or natural person.
Such people are free in mind and calm in demeanor. Sometimes disconsolate like autumn and sometimes warm like spring, their joys and sorrows are in direct touch with the four seasons, in harmony with all creation, and none know the limit thereof….
The pure ones of old appeared towering of stature and yet could not topple down. They behaved as though wanting in themselves, but without looking up to others. Naturally independent of mind, they were not severe. Living in unconstrained freedom, yet they did not try to show off. They appeared to smile as if pleased, and to move only in natural response to surroundings. Their serenity flowed from the store of goodness within. In social relationships, they kept to their inner character. Broadminded, they appeared great; towering, they seemed beyond control. Continuously abiding, they seemed like doors kept shut; absent-minded, they seemed to forget speech.
Pursuit of Knowledge
Without stepping outside one’s doors,
One can know what is happening in the world,
Without looking out of one’s windows,
One can see the Tao of Heaven.
The farther one pursues knowledge,
The less one knows.
Therefore the Sage knows without running about,
Understands without seeing,
Accomplishes without doing.
Lao tse (b. 571 B.C.)
Excerpted from from The Wisdom of Laotse translated by
Lin Yutang, 1948
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